Debbie McGee on her husband’s death I did one of Paul’s magic tricks on the boat, it was very emotional

DEBBIE McGee has been through emotional turmoil since magician husband Paul Daniels died nearly a year ago.

But grieving Debbie, 58, returns to the small screen on Friday in Channel 5’ s four- part series Celebrity Carry On Barging.

She joins actors Nigel Havers, 65, Lorraine Chase, 65, and Simon Callow, 67, on a pair of 60ft narrow boats to explore Britain’s canals, with often comical results.

And she even managed to ease the pain of Paul’s death by performing one of his more difficult card tricks.

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Debbie, who was Paul’s assistant, said: “In one episodes I do one of Paul’s magic tricks and it was quite an emotional thing.

“It was quite a hard, but fun. We would open the second half of a show with it.

“I just did it on the barge with a small audience. I really enjoyed it. It is a baffling trick and that is why I chose to do it.

“Until the barge trip I could not even think about magic as it so relates to Paul.”

Their 28-year marriage was seen as among the happiest and strongest in showbiz and Paul always referred to her as “the lovely Debbie McGee”. She was by his side for his biggest TV hit The Paul Daniels Magic Show which ran from 1979 to 1994 and sold to 43 countries.

But Paul, 77, suffered a fall last year, days after the couple finished in panto Aladdin at the Regent in Ipswich, and was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer.

On March 17 he whispered to Debbie: “I love you” before dying at his home on the Thames at Wargraves, Berks.

Debbie told the Sunday People how pottering along at five knots in a barge with Nigel Havers has made her realise “life goes on”.

She said: “This was my first thing away from home and it really got me around a big corner. Paul and I used to do a lot of boating. I was proud of myself. You can still enjoy the things you used to with the person, even if they’re no longer there.”

Debbie said the Magic Circle had held a tribute to Paul with messages from magicians from around the world. She said: “After that it meant I could go on this trip and not get too emotional. It helped me.”

Paul and Debbie had their own motorboat, named The Lovely Debbie McGee.

She said everyone on Carry on Barging got along really well and being on board with Nigel was like sharing with a mate.

She said: “I felt I knew Nigel and he loved magic. I felt the trick would enhance the experience for all of us and it was me giving something back to them.

“I had gone another few steps forward in my grief at that point and this was another step. It all just felt right.” Nigel, who played